Summer Snowballs, the Viburnum
December 21, 2006 by Rick Anderson
If you like-love Viburnums you gotta love this one. I was driving home from an appointment and ran across this beauty in a real small Ohio town, it looks great doesn’t it.
People are always asking me about small trees, I want small trees. Well here you go there are several Viburnums that go over 10.0′ feet in height including
- Viburnum sieboldi ‘Seneca’
- Viburnum x rhytidophylloides ‘Allegheny’
- Viburnum prunifolium
- Viburnum lentago
- Viburnum d. ‘Autumn Jazz’
So look into this set of woodies you won’t be disappointed, as for the professionals we don’t use Viburnums enough either and I can’t explain why. Spring/summer color, good strong foliage, heavy fruiters, and usually good fall foliage. I just don’t get it. I myself am a big culprit and today has reminded me again of the fact that every yard should have some Viburnum.
They are especially useful as a wildlife, bird attractor, screening, or naturalizer also.
My hope is to use this site to spread some info about the art and practice of Landscape Design. It is a very misunderstood profession; I do not cut grass like the next door neighbor's cousin who carries 3 mowers and a blower in the back of his truck.
I will also pass along comments on industry happenings, events, etc., and any maybe a few other adventures going on in my world-after all this is "my" blog. Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Questions? Drop me an e-mail.
rick (at) whisperingcraneinstitute (dot) com
Blackswamp_Girl said…
I have one of the fussier viburnums… doublefile… but it’s still fairly low-maintenance. I think maybe the reason for its underuse is that it’s a “handsome” shrub instead of a “sexy” shrub, you know? I love the texture of the leaves on viburnums, though.
10:14 PM
Rick Anderson said…
One, just one . . . surely you jest. With so many great ones out there big and small-go get some more.
Lets start a Viburnum revolution!
11:09 PM
Carol said…
I have several Viburnums, all bloom in the spring. Was this rally blooming when you posted this in August?? If so, MUST HAVE!!
9:11 AM
Rick Anderson said…
I took this the day before I posted it!
I agree with the praise for viburnums. But couldn’t help but wonder, given the bloomtime, if this might be a Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora (Pee Gee Hydrangea) rather than a viburnum!
I’m glad that I saw this in your ‘top posts’ list - I need to check into your Viburnum list (love small trees). I have three Viburnums that I just planted this spring - V. carlesii, V. (can’t remember species name) ‘Blue Muffin’, and V. nudum ‘Winterthur’ - and I’m slowly reading Dirr’s ‘Viburnums’ - and being in zone 8b, have to be a bit careful. I think they’re amazing as a Genus.